Valley Central parent says unsafe football field caused injury; board points to maintenance steps

A Valley Central parent told the school board that unsafe conditions on the district’s football field led to a student injury and urged the board to provide consistent, proactive maintenance.

Janet Williamson, who identified herself as a Valley Central parent and educator, told the board that on Friday, Oct. 10 at about 7:20 p.m. her 16-year-old daughter, a junior and varsity soccer player, “was injured during her game” after “stepping into a 6 inch hole near the 18 yard box on the scoreboard side of the football field.” Williamson said another teammate and visiting players were also injured or escorted off the field that night, and she described prior hazards including jagged plastic debris and arrows that players had collected themselves.

Board leadership acknowledged concerns about fields and…